Lawmakers denounce water cannon assault on Pinoy fishermen

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December 14, 2025 | 5:40pm

MANILA, Philippines — Some lawmakers have condemned the water cannon attack on Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea on Friday, December 12.

In separate statements on Sunday, December 14, Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Rep. Leila De Lima (Mamamayang Liberal) denounced the Chinese Coast Guard's water cannon attack, which injured three Filipino fishermen.

Hontiveros stated that China seems focused on achieving its goals, potentially at the expense of both the nation's territories and its people.

She urged the government to fast-track defense treaty negotiations with allied countries in response to what she called escalating violence.

“I strongly denounce China’s relentless aggression against our fisherfolk. Hindi na nga maayos na makapaghanapbuhay ang ating mangingisda sa sarili nating karagatan, sasaktan pa nila?” Hontiveros said. 

(I strongly denounce China's relentless aggression against our fisherfolk. Our fishermen can't even properly earn a living in our own waters, and now they are being hurt/attacked?)

“Our fisherfolk must not be left defenseless. More Coast Guard personnel and vessels must accompany them to the West Philippine Sea. Lagyan na ng malinaw na budget at sapat na suporta ang ganitong inisyatibo. Huwag nating hayaang mag-isa at walang proteksyon ang ating mga mangingisda,” she added.

(Our fisherfolk must not be left defenseless. More Coast Guard personnel and vessels must accompany them to the West Philippine Sea. A clear budget and sufficient support must now be allocated for this initiative. Let us not allow our fishermen to be alone and without protection.)

Hontiveros also emphasized the urgent need to strengthen all maritime and defense capabilities as quickly and comprehensively as possible.

“May Navy na nawalan ng daliri, mga Coast Guard crew na nagkaroon ng temporary blindness, at ngayon, mga mangingisdang nasugatan. We cannot afford to be unprepared as China continues to endanger Filipino lives,” she said. 

(A Navy personnel lost a finger, Coast Guard crew suffered temporary blindness, and now, fishermen have been injured. We cannot afford to be unprepared as China continues to endanger Filipino lives.)

Meanwhile, De Lima called the incident “outrageous and deeply concerning.”

“Bukod sa pagkasira ng mga bangka at pagkakait sa ating mga mangingisda ng kanilang kabuhayan sa ating teritoryo, inilagay ng China Coast Guard sa matinding panganib ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan,” De Lima’s statement read. 

(Aside from the destruction of boats and the denial of livelihood to our fishermen in our territory, the China Coast Guard has put the lives of our countrymen in extreme danger.)

“This serious violation of our fishermen’s rights demands urgent and necessary action from the government. Nakababahala na tinatarget na ng China Coast Guard ng water cannon ang mismong mga bangka ng ating mga mangingisda, at posibleng gawin nila ito ulit, kaya hindi pwedeng hayaan at palampasin lang ito ng pamahalaan,” she added. 

(This serious violation of our fishermen’s rights demands urgent and necessary action from the government. It is alarming that the China Coast Guard is now targeting the actual boats of our fishermen with water cannons, and they might possibly do it again, which is why the government cannot just allow and overlook this.)

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, three Filipino fishermen were injured on Friday near Escoda Shoal when Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels used water cannons and acted aggressively toward their fishing boats.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China’s claims in the region lacked legal grounds, a decision that Beijing continues to reject.